On Saturday, September 10, the City of Alexandria, Virginia marked the 15th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 with a remembrance ceremony. On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked commercial airliners to strike targets in the United States including the nearby Pentagon. Nearly 3,000 people died as a result of the attacks.

The ceremony featured remarks from Mayor Allison Silberberg and representatives from the Alexandria Police Department, Fire Department, and Sheriff’s Office. The tribute included a “Return to Quarters” bell-ringing ceremony and musical performances by the award-winning Alexandria Harmonizers ( a STIRRING rendition of God Bless America) and the City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums.

In case you couldn’t make it, see video from the event above and photos from the event at this link.

The campaign is a cooperative effort between on-duty AFD personnel, AVFD personnel, and off-duty volunteers, to include friends and family. Volunteers will be recruited from each of the labor group as well (IAFF, PBFFA, and APMA).

Muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other related diseases take away the ability to walk, move, smile, talk or even breathe.

Proceeds will go towards research and treatments and will also help support MDA’s programs, such as state-of-the-art support groups and clinics, according to their release.

Over the last five + years the Alexandria Fire Department has raised over $165,000 for MDA.

Firefighters have been spotted around town today! Will you help fill the boot??

As the Firefighter’s Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia reaches its 160th year, Friendship Firehouse Museum and Ivy Hill Cemetery staff will discuss how and why Ivy Hill Cemetery was chosen for the obelisk honoring seven fallen firemen, and how the tradition of honoring fallen firefighters has grown at this enduring memorial.

The events is FREE and for age 10 and older and takes place Saturday, September 17, from 1-2 p.m. at Ivy Hill Cemetery, located at 2823 King Street in Alexandria.

UPDATE (12:40 PM): According to AFD, the call came out as a kitchen fire. The fire department arrived and it turned out to be a fire inside the oven that was contained. During the fire departments investigation, they also found the stove slightly pulled from the wall that caused a slight gas odor. The fire department extinguished the oven fire and mitigated the slight odor which eventually dissipated. No one was hurt or injured and everything is back to normal.

The 300 block of Oronoco Street is CLOSED this morning in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia for Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) activity. Have reached out to AFD for more information.

Former City Employee Indicted for Theft of City Funds

The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney has announced that Monique Jackson Asante, a former employee of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, was indicted by a grand jury this morning on one felony charge related to the theft of City funds. Ms. Jackson Asante was employed as an administrative assistant in the Alexandria Fire Department until her employment was terminated on February 24, 2016. She is accused of facilitating the submission and payment of fraudulent invoices for training and supplies.

On February 23, 2016, the Alexandria Fire Department received information that Ms. Jackson Asante may have mishandled City funds. The City Manager’s Office directed the Alexandria Police Department to conduct a criminal investigation and directed the Office of Internal Audit to conduct an internal investigation, and Ms. Jackson Asante cooperated with these inquiries. The City of Alexandria is seeking incarceration and full restitution of the stolen funds. Pursuant to state law, if Ms. Jackson Asante is convicted of a felony in this case she will not be entitled to receive a public pension.

As a result of its internal investigation, the City is improving financial controls, increasing audit frequency, and strengthening approvals processes. The Alexandria Fire Department is providing additional ethics and fiscal management training and focus to appropriate administrators, managers, and officers. The City has also engaged a third-party auditing firm to conduct a review of internal financial controls beyond the annual reviews normally conducted by internal and external auditors. Disciplinary action has been taken against employees who failed to provide appropriate oversight.